Mixing and control device for fluids



y 16, 1939- w. s. TRADER ET AL 2,158,342

MIXING AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUIDS Filed May 6 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1NVENTOR5 W/LEUR a 72,4052, owe/e455 H. ,mrmram 1 BY WfiLTER /1. F/lwsr '%RNEY.

M y 1939- w. s. TRADER ET AL 2,153,342

MIXING AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6. 1957 Fig.8

t W k /2cm7 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXING AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUIDS Wilbur s. Trader, Charles 11. Hamilton, and Walter H. Finley, Nashville, Tenn.

Application May 6, 1937, Serial No. 141,098

3 Claims. (Cl. 277--l8) This invention relates to a control apparatus or line A, and hot water leads from the tank toward device for fluids, and particularly for mixing the shower S as at H. A cold water branch line fluids in variable proportions and discharging C is shown connected to he m A as atA'. the mixture. The particularillustration repre- Branch lines f s pp y n h t and cold water sents a mixing and control valve for hot and cold o t r D s e building are cated at water. The primary object is to provide aunitary H and C, and these may be controlled by any mixing valve, which, when not performing its suitable arrangement of valves such as indicated mixing function, will allow substantially no inter at H" and C". The lines H and C come tochange between the hot and cold water in a g ther at the mi ng va v hown r mmat- 10 plumbing system, and may be operated to turn ically at M, and for simplicity of illustration the 10 on water at any desired volume, or turn of}? water main shut-oil of the mixing valve V is shown sepentirely, without having to disturb the setting of arately from M. It is of course, highly important the valve for mixing. that the mixing valve be so arranged that an in- Another object is to provide an improved valve terchange between hot and co Wate in e Y of the bibcock type. tem cannot take place when the shower is not 23' Another specific object is to provide a leakoperating, for at such time there is a slight difproof unitary valve construction for both mixing ferential of pressure between the hot and cold hot and cold water, and regulating the volume water and leakage (interchange) would waste of discharge independently of the ratio of supply heat. Normally this pressure differential (hereof the hot and cold water. inafter D. P.) is approximately .36 pound per Still another object is to provide a valve consquare inch. This may be greater or less, destruction adapted to serve both as a mixer and pending upon the temperature difference between main shut-off for water, which may be made ecothe hot and cold water in the system and the nomically and be capable of being easily as height of the hot water column. Since the hot sembled, disassembled andadjusted. water line leading to the mixing valve usually Other objects and features of the invention will cools oil? when the valve is not in use, the D. P. become apparent from the following description, is much less for the greater part of the time the relating to the accompanying drawings, which shower is idle, and at such times interchange does illustrate a preferred form. The essential charnot take place as a practical matter.

30 acteristics are summarized in the claims. Should the branch cold water line C be op- U Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagram erated there will be a'drop in pressure at the showing the relationship of the valve apparatus cold side of the mixing valve, and this obviously hereof to a hot and cold water supply system of would increase the D. P. above the value (.35) the usual type; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mentioned above. The dropof pressure we are valve apparatus in a form suitable for controlling accustomed to, when a faucet is opened, results Water for bath n Fig. 3 is a front view showing from the pipe friction all the way from the faucet the control handles and escutcheon plate for int the street, through the meter, and corporation dicating the character of the mix, etc.; Fig. 4 is a cock. In this case, however, a drop will be'due transverse, central sectional view of the valve to friction only in the pipe between C and A and 40 taken in a vertical plane; Fig. 5- is a transverse, any drop between the main A and the street will 4 sectional w, taken along the line on be effective onboth the cold and hot sides of the g. 6 is a frag y ew. similar to the system. It is evident, then, that the mixing valve leftand p n of 4, omitting the Valve would not ordinarily be subjected to any considplug arrangement; Fi 7 is a ctional view erable pressure difference, and it is also evident taken at i 2 and 4; Fig. 8 is a side view that a, slight leak between the hot and cold of a mixing valve sleeve, and Fig. 9 is a central water line at the mixing valve will be unnoticed, sect o w Of the Preferred mixing Valve P insofar as hot water loss is concerned, and therea portion of the operating stem of which is shown fore of no practical importance. in elevation. The above discussion is deemed necessary be- Fig. 1 is principally illustrative of the problems cause the present arrangement employs as a 50 presented by mixing and control valves for shut-oil in the mixing .valve, a cylindrical plug showers and the like. Only so much of the syswhich slides in a sleeve having opposite ports as tem as relates directly to the supply as to a. a closure to prevent interchange during idle shower or like functioning apparatus is shown. periods. Such sleeve type valves, oddly enough,

Cold water is admitted to the tank as through a are not ordinarily accepted in household plumboutwardly to the common discharge.

ing fixtures; although, the principle is found effective in other hydraulic pressure systems where from two thousand to four thousand pounds per square'inch pressures are involved.

It will be seen that the general scheme is to connect the hot and cold lines at a mixer which will proportion the common discharge from hot to cold; then on said discharge to place a valve which will (I) close the discharge to the air; (H) when so closed prevent intermingling of the hot and cold water in the system and (III) regulate the volume of water discharged from the common channel, without interfering with the mixing adjustment while any of these functions are being performed. It should also be borne'in mind that there isthe further objective, namely, to provide for carrying out the above functions in one self-contained device, which may be conveniently installed, adjusted and repaired.

Referring further to Fig. 2, this shows the manner in which the valve device I, (MV on Fig. 1), comprising several parts to be later described in detail, is set into the usual building construction, 50 that the feed and discharge pipes are behind the plaster or other finish. The aggregate building parts, indicated at 2, represent the usual lath, plaster and tiling, as in a bathroom. 3 represents one of the usual studs to which the finishing assembly 2 may be attached. The principal mounting for the valve comprises the pipes H and C, (see Fig. 1; omitted from Fig. 2). A suitable coupling for connection with the (e. g.). shower S is attached to the upstanding. threaded extension The character of the valve body can best be seen in Figs. 4 to 8; and the: body may include an end section l0, (Figs. 4 and 5) provided with the upstanding threaded portion I and two laterally extending threaded branches l3 and 4 for suitable connection with the hot and cold water lines H and C.

The hollow interior of the extension communicates as by a curved passage l5, with a central discharge port l6 of a valve chamber |1.

The main closure plug for said port is of the bibb type, having a compression washer, the head assembly |8 of which plug is moved by a stem 25 inside the chamber I1 to open and close the port "5. Said closure plug operates substantially as a bibcock with the exception that in the present instance there is no relative turning between the compression washer and seat, and hence there is little likelihood of mutilation of the compression washer, in case the seat or washer become defective for any reason.

Adjacent the valve chamber I1, the section It! is bored cylindrically as at 20 to receive a rotary sleeve 2|, shouldered as at 22 into a cylindrically machined seat or counterbore adjacent the bore 20, so that the left-hand end of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 4, can be turned, to function as the mixing adjuster in cooperation with the lateral inlets in the section II). The sleeve, as shown in Fig. 5, has ports 23 and 24 adapted to align in different positionsof the sleeve, with said lateral inlets of I3 and I4, so that water can pass from both into the valve chamber |1 past the stem of the bibb type closure.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ports 23 and 24 are positioned for equal proportioning of hot and cold water. When turned from this position the mixture is varied as can be seen from inspection of the drawings. The hot and cold water passes from the sleeve 2| into the chamber l1, thence A cylindrical plug or head 26 on the stem 25 is withdrawn to uncover the sleeve ports 23 and 24 whenever the stem is withdrawn to open the bibcock. When the bibcock closes, the head 28 prevents any interchange of water, as from hot to cold. Preferably, the cylindrical plug 26 floats freely laterally of the stem, as by reason of the construction shown in Fig. 9 wherein an inner rib 26a on the plug operates between annular members 25a and 25b, one of which is a suitably attached ring separate from the stem to permit assembly. The stem 25 of the bibcock reaches through. the sleeve 2| to a control mechanism on the outer end of the valve body (to be later described).

Suitable means for preventing leakage along the stem 25 may comprise packing as at 28, held in place by substantially the usual threaded compression sleeve 29.

Outwardly, from the shoulder 22 on the mixing sleeve 2|, the section (Fig. 4) is machined as at 30 to provide a labyrinth joint against which there is seated a sleeve 3|, surrounding an outer cylindrical portion of the sleeve 2| as a support. The sleeve 3| has a packing gland and nut assembly 33 of conventional type to prevent leak age along the outer surface of the mixing sleeve. The outer rim portion of the sleeve 3| is machined as at 35, to provide a seat for a housing tube 36 for the various parts mentioned. The right-hand end of the tube (Fig. 4) engages a fitting 31 of a two-part clamping head, including an outside fitting 38. The fitting 31 is machined at 39 to fit the outer end of the tube 36, at the upper portion of the valve body, and the lower side of the fitting 38 is similarly machined to fit the tube at 40. The lower side of the fitting 31 is spaced from the wall of the tube 36 as will be clear from Fig; 7, and on this lower side the tube 36 extends beyond the section 31 into abutment with the shoulder just mentioned. This allows an operating connection to be established between a centrally located handle (later described) and the mixing sleeve, while providing a central support for operating means for the bibcock.

The body parts so far described, namely, the end section II), the tube 36 and the end fittings 31 and 38, may be held rigidly together by a pair of bolts or studs 42 Studs are shown, which pass through ear formations on the fittings 31 and 38, and similar ear formations 43 on the body section I0. As shown, the studs are threaded on their ends which .are at the left in Fig. 2, for connection with the cars 43. The opposite ends of the studs may have fixed heads. 7

Referring now to the illustrated arrangement for turning the sleeve 2| to vary the mixture of water passing through the extensions I3 and I4, it will be seen that on the outer end of the mixing sleeve 2| there is secured a disc 50, as by a nut the outer rim of the disc having tooth efiects thereon for engagement with matching notches 52, on a sleeve 53, which has a free turning fit inside the tube 36. The sleeve 53 is cut away at the top, as at 55, and its lower portion reaches past the fitting 31 for dental engagement with a flange 51 of a sleeve 58 which is adapted for attachment to an adjusting handle outside the body. The last-mentioned sleeve (58) has free turning bearing inside both fittings 31 and 38, and extends outwardly from the right-hand end of the latter as at 59, for connection with an adjusting handle 60 of any suitable form. This handle moves adjacent an escutcheonplate 6|,

(see Fig. 3) marked to designate hot" and cold water.

The escutcheon plate may be secured to the outer end of the fitting 38, as by a nut 63, and as 5 shown, has separate telescoping parts (overlapping at 64) so that the outer edges of the plate may seat tightly against the tiling or plaster, notwithstanding movement of the body inwardly and outwardly a short distance, as may be neceslo sitated by the variations in the positions of the piping inside the wall.

As previously mentioned, the stem of the bibcock reciprocates but does not turn. Suitable means for effecting reciprocation. may comprise a threaded head 65 on one end of the stem (shown 1 at right Fig. 4), fixed as by a screw or pin; which threaded head cooperates with a cylindricalnut 65 on a separate stem section 61 projecting through the reduced end of the sleeve portion 59 of the mixer adjusting sleeve 58. To this may be attached any suitable adjusting means, such as the winged handle 68.

A suitable arrangement for preventing the stem from turning may comprise a bifurcated lat- B eral extension 10 on the shank portion of the threaded head 65; the armsof the extension embracing a pin ll, secured as at 12, to the fixed inner fitting 31, and lying parallel to the stem 25. It will be seen that when the handle 68 a is turned, the threaded head 65 will be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to the cylindrical nut 66; the latter being prevented from moving endwise partly by the sleeve 58, and partly by an inwardly overhanging abutment 15 on the fitting 31.

In cases where it is not considered necessary to house the working parts of the device the reciprocating stem of the bibb type valve may have any suitable pin and slot connection with an outer fixed housing, which latter may then be cut away, as on the bottom of the body, in order to establish turnable connection between the mixer adjustment handle and the mixer sleeve.

It may be mentioned that provision for preventing turning of the stem 25, as an alternative construction, may be associated with the outer end of the bibcock head, as by the provision of suitable longitudinal guide ways on the inside of the valve chamber l1, and tongues on the head adapted to slide but not turn materially in such ways. In other respects the construction may be modified as much as desired for simplification or special adaptation'or for any other purpose.

It will be apparent from the above description and the drawings, that the device is operative to eflfect the various objectives heretofor outlined. It will be noted that the mixing sleeve will operate properly when reversed in position, i. e., turned 180 degrees from that shown in Fig. 5. In

such event, if the handle S. as shown in Fig. 3 is turned to align with the designation Hot" on the escutcheon, the device will discharge water from the cold line. Therefore, should the plumber reverse the positions of the hot and cold lines or should it be desired to use the device inverted, as for tub use instead of shower (discharge ll turned downward) then it is only necessary to reverse the position of the assembly, exclusive of part III, by turning it 180 degrees and interchanging the position of the studs 42 in the ears 43 of the section III, and to reset the handle ill in 180 degrees turned position on the sleeve 59 (which may be square for example) in order to reconcile the movement of the handle with the instructions on the escutcheon.

We claim:

1. A mixing valve comprising a body having a three-port valve chamber, turnable means operatively arranged relative to two of the ports variably to mix fluid admissible to the valve chamber therethrough, reciprocable means which is adjustable independently of the turnable means to block and unblock the third port, a sliding connection between the body and reciprocable means to prevent turning of the reciprocable means, and screw thread mechanism to operate the reciprocable means, said mechanism including a threaded element inside the body and which is fixed against axial movement relative to the body, said element having an operating part extending outside the body.

2. A mixing valve comprising a hollow body having means forming a three-port valve chamber, a sleeve turnably mounted in said means and operatively arranged relative to two of the ports variably to mix fluid admissible to the valve chamber therethrough, and means slidably supported inside the sleeve, keyed to the body inside the latter so that the slidable means cannot turn and being movable to block and unblock the third port, the last named means being arranged to close communication between the two ports when operating to block the third port, the sleeve and slidable means being relatively arranged so that the movement of neither transmits any move ment to the other.

3. A mixing valve comprising a body having lateral inlets for the fluid to be mixed, an adjustable sleeve with apertures cooperating with the inlets in a manner to control the mixture, a stem inside the sleeve and an annular plug adapted for blocking the apertures of the sleeve, said splug having radial floating movement on the stem.

WILBUR S. TRADER. CHARLE H. HAMILTON. WALTER H. FINLEY. 

